I went to the cinema for my birthday to see The Ballad of Wallis Island, and what a treat it was.

I’ve adored Tim Key’s comedy for years. His live shows are works of genius, packed with surrealism and pathos. Whether it’s his radio shows, his appearances on Taskmaster, or his role as Sidekick Simon in Alan Partridge, Key has always brought a unique blend of wit and absurdity to everything he touches.

This film is no exception.

I deliberately avoided reviews and trailers beforehand, knowing he’d be teaming up again with his old comedy partner Tom Basden (who is also superb here). Basden’s music, which he wrote for the film, is also a perfect fit. Carey Mulligan fills out the third role with effortless Hollywood charm.

I won’t spoil the plot for you. You deserve to go in fresh. But rest assured: the jokes are constant and creative and I laughed...

Dave Rupert on his blog writes:

I don’t have the capital to start my own Fourth Estate university or newspaper. But I do have this blog. A minor stake in the Fifth Estate. But my blog plus your blog, mix in some RSS and the power of sharing interesting blogs and podcasts… we might make a dent.

The indie-web (or however you want to call it) can be a powerful antidote to the billionaire owned assets and propaganda tools. Is it enough? Will we be islands of humanity bobbing along the river of AI slop? Is it enough to change a world where we have looks around all of this, going on?

Yes or no the world keeps turning, computers keep running and we’re allowed to have our place to share thoughts and fears and pictures of cats.

Sean Morley, writing for Now Then Magazine:

Every major political party seems to be operating under the belief that Reform UK supporters have five votes each and everyone who doesn’t want to pneumatically press disabled people into an impacted cube is unable to fill out a ballot card. We live in the (disenfranchised back of) the imperial core. Here, bigotry is always on the menu. Every policy dogwhistles pied piperishly at sunburnt pink-faced pint goblins who would sink the Titanic with a nuclear warhead if they heard there was a refugee on board. The culture is scarred with ancient ley lines of intolerance and conservativism.

I am astonished by the UK media/politicians who are seemingly desperate to placate the view of people who essentially have the intelligence and disposition of a someone who was kicked in the head by a horse.

They really exist. They have always existed. Trans people, just...

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A run down of everything I’ve consumed this month. April was warm and the extra daylight has been great for the old menty hel (mental health).

My favourite film from each year of the naughties.

• Almost Famous
• Amélie
• 24 Hour Party People
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
• Collateral
• Sin City
• Pan's Labyrinth
• No Country for Old Men
• Synecdoche, New York
• Inglourious Basterds

Watched on Saturday April 12, 2025.

Letterbox showdown of favourite films with specific locations in the title.

• The Muppets Take Manhattan
• Notting Hill
• Synecdoche, New York
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• This Is England
• Dunkirk
• The Bridge on the River Kwai
• The Last Black Man in San Francisco
• Casablanca

Watched on Monday April 7, 2025.

Watched on Sunday April 6, 2025.

After a dry Jan and an accidentally wet Feb, I got back to winning ways in March. 30/31 days without a drink, and that one time an almost unavoidable Stag/Hen party. It’s been a good month, and I’m feeling the benefits both in my head and in my wallet.

Looking at the whole year I’m 88/93 days without alcohol. Looking ahead to April there are one or two occasions where I might be tempted, but I can feel that 3 months in, my relationship with drinking has started to change. I’m no longer thinking about weekends and picturing the pub, I’m thinking about getting round to the things I put off because I knew I would be hungover.

Again, I realise it’s not a totally dry month but I’m really pleased with how it’s going and with how my life will look at the end of the year. Yes, it’s a...